I am very late to the pocket notebook game – as in this is my very first pocket notebook that I own and have used (gasp!). I bought this in Japan when stationery binging at Muji – not really understanding the point of a pocket notebook, but buying it because it was cute and cheap.

I have only recently started carrying this around with me (since the 10^th of June in fact) and only did so after reading a lot about David Allen’s GTD system and the Bill Westerman GSD system. So from a utilitarian and longevity point of view, the Muji Passport Notebook has performed well so far – the cover is not very battered or aged at all, despite use. However, I will say that I usually carry this around in my workbag or handbag and not in my pocket, which probably helps longevity.

The paper is a creamy ivory colour and there are 48 pages to each notebook. Paper performance is well, not fabulous – for rollerballs there is significant bleed through (even for the Marvy le pen fineliner!). For fountain pens there is significant feathering and bleed through – up to the next page as well!

This is not a fountain pen or even liquid ink friendly notebook. However, I like to keep it simple and only ever use my Uniball Signo 207 gel pen in this notebook, so although the paper is not brilliant, it works for me.

The Muji Passport Notebook is marginally smaller than the standard pocket notebook size (88 x 120 mm v’s 88.9 x 139.7 mm) and is available in blank, ruled, graph and dot for JPY120 which equates to roughly AUD$1.45. For that price –  and if you don’t mind limiting your pen usage to only pencil, gel or ball point –why wouldn’t you buy this? If you like to mix things up, well then this isn’t the pocket notebook for you.